Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on February 7, 2006.
The new season brings lots of change. I think there are more driver changes than there are drivers who stayed with last year's ride. Throw in sponsor and crew changes (which I won't begin to touch here), and there will be some lost people walking around the garage at Daytona next week.
Here's my cheat sheet to who is where and how they got there. Watch the dominos fall... Or maybe it's time for musical chairs - cue the music!
No. 1 (DEI) : Martin Truex Jr. (rookie up from Busch series) will drive full time after racing in a few races last season.
No 2 (Penske): Rusty Wallace retired, but will now be in the broadcast booth for ABC/ESPN for IRL races. His replacement is Kurt Busch who left the No. 97 (Roush) now the No. 26, which Jamie McMurray drives in 2006. McMurray left the No. 42 (Ganassi) which McMurray's former teammate Casey Mears takes over having previously driven the No. 41(Ganassi), which will now be piloted by Reed Sorenson, a rookie from Busch series.
No. 4 (Morgan-McClure): Mike Wallace was fired near the end of last season, now Scott Wimmer will take over. Wallace will land at No. 09 (Phoenix), a new team. Wimmer leaves the No. 22 (Davis), with Dave Blaney now as driver. Blaney was booted from the No. 07 (Childress) to make room for rookie Clint Bowyer.
No. 10 (MB2): Not a true "major" change, as driver, Scott Riggs, number and sponsor move to Evernham. The MB2 team changed to the No. 14, which will be driven by Sterling Marlin, who was booted from the No. 40 (Ganassi) to make room for David Stremme (Marlin was "too old" for the sponsor, Coors Beer, according to Ganassi).
No. 11 (Gibbs): Jason Leffler was dumped before the end of last season (he'll drive in the Busch series), when Denny Hamlin took over. Hamlin moves up from the Busch series. J.J. Yeley also moves up from Busch for Gibbs (and tried to drive the 11), but will take his seat in the No. 18 (Gibbs) vacated by Bobby Labonte. Labonte moves to the No. 43 (Petty), a seat previously held by Jeff Green. Green moves to the No. 0 now the No. 66 (Haas CNC). The No. 0 had been driven by Mike Bliss, who is rideless at this time.
No. 21 (Woods): Ricky Rudd abruptly retired at the end of the year, so Woods Brothers tapped Ken Schrader from the No. 49 (BAM) who then hired Brent Sherman, a rookie.
No. 32 (PPI): Formerly driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr, who was let go near the end of the season (he'll drive in the truck series). The 32 will now be driven byTravis Kvapil, who used to drive the No. 77 (Penske). The No. 77's points were purchased by the No. 55 (Davis): Michael Waltrip moved from the No. 15 (DEI)and got a new number. The 15 will now occasionally be driven by Paul Menard(probably for 6 or less races).
No. 36 (MB2): Last year, Boris Said drove this car in a few select races, this year Bill Elliott will at least attempt Daytona. Elliott had been driving theNo. 91(Evernham). No word on Said's 2006 plans.
No. 61(Peak): Kevin LePage will drive this new/old team. Used to be the No. 66 driven by Hermie Sadler and Mike Garvey.
No. 78 (Furniture Row): Kenny Wallace will move up for some races from the Busch series - may not be a full-time ride.
No. 92 (Front Row): Chad Chaffin will drive - this is a new team. Chaffin "graduates" from the truck series.
No. 96 (Hall of Fame): Terry Labonte & Tony Raines will share driving duties for this new ride by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach (and you thought football had nothing to do with racing!). Labonte drove the No. 44 (Hendrick) a few times last year.
Don't get too used to these teams - usually a few weeks into the season someone changes something!
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